Cousins take same career path

Kelly Vickers (left) has graduated with her cousin Chloe Johnson after both completed a degree in teaching

Published:12:00Friday 24 July 2015

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Two cousins from Bridlington have been taking the same education and career path since they started primary school.

Chloe Johnson and Kelly Vickers, both aged 21, went to Quay Primary School, with Kelly also having a spell at Bempton Primary School. They both wanted to become teachers and after moving up to Bridlington School and then on to East Riding College they started at the Scarborough campus of Hull University.

Last Friday, both of them graduated at a ceremony at The Spa Complex in Scarborough and in September will start their own careers in their first teaching jobs.

“It is just the way it turned out really,” said Chloe of Wright Crescent, Bridlington, who at her graduation also received an award for the success she had with her teaching course in which she achieved a first.

In September, after the long summer holidays, she will start teaching full-time at Sigglesthorne Primary near Hornsea where she will be dealing with years 4, 5 and 6. “It will be a challenge but I am looking forward to it, I can’t wait,” said Chloe, who always wanted to be a teacher.

She wanted to thank her parents for their support but especially her late grandfather Alfred Schofield. “I was very close to my grandad, he was the one who always said “you can do it” and gave me such encouragement. He would have been really proud to see me graduate, I am sure he was there in spirit,” said Chloe.

In the future she would like to teach pupils with special educational needs to help them through education in a mainstream school without having to go to a special school.

Her cousin Kelly, who until very recently lived in St John’s Avenue, Bridlington, took almost the same path. She has just moved to live in Leeds with boyfriend Jamie and in September will start her full-time teaching job at Holy Family Primary primary school in Armley, Leeds, teaching nursery children aged between three and four. “I always wanted to teach young children. My family were supportive and I pushed myself on to achieve what I wanted. I can’t wait to start teaching. Chloe and I have always been close and been good friends,” she said.

Members of the family were at the graduation in Scarborough and afterwards held a celebration meal in Bridlington for the two cousins.